Hi would you please give me your opinion on whether the shoe below is a blem, or just a color variation that goes with the territory when you buy leather products? The piece of leather that includes the eyelets on the right side is discolored a lighter shade and it is particularly pronounced right up where you tie the bow. That entire decorative strip is a somewhat lighter shade, but it is the piece where the eyelets are that really is bugging me... in person I'd describe it as looking a little like a reeses peanut butter cup that is way past the expiration date and has started to kind of whiten.

I waited 7 weeks for this pair and while I can return them, I'm not crazy about the prospect of waiting another 7 weeks. If I set my mind to it, I can ignore it... but my eyes have keyed in on this issue and I'm convinced in my mind that they "look funny" from the right side. Or I can just give up on the shell cordovan shoes (but the leather does look and feel soooo nice aside from this "issue")

Would you accept this in a $575 shoe or return it?

Not sure if pic is coming thru so i tried to attach it twice just in case.

Mentioning that the whole strip is slightly different color was kind of a red herring... that isn't my concern and I probably should have left that unsaid. If the whole strip with the eyelets was a slightly lighter shade compared to the rest of the shoe it would be cool. The left shoe has a little bit of that kind of shade variation. But this trip has a slightly mottled vibe that looks like a finishing blunder to me... and is particularly light right at the spot where you tie the bow.

The left shoe is markedly more uniform and "mottle-free".

But the feedback so far is helpful. If that turns out to be a consensus, then I will shake it off and keep the shoe. That's why I came here to hear from the experts and enthusiasts.

I wouldn't have picked this one out from a batch where there were three pairs of more uniform color along with this one. But that doesn't make it a "no-brainer return" either ... (unless it DOES).... that's why I'm asking. I do not want to be a retail "return-zilla".

Well if you are unhappy with it then just return it, its YOUR money after all. But maybe some more pics would be helpful because i can't really see what you are talking about in the one you just posted, and its upside down